Re "Golden Dome signals change to Canada's long-time opposition to joining U.S. missile defence" (Oct. 11): No country with nuclear weapons has ever been successfully invaded or annexed.
Their devastating potential deters aggression and preserves sovereignty where conventional forces fail. Just look at Ukraine, which gave up nuclear ambitions only to suffer significant territorial losses and unnecessary deaths.
Canada has the technical capacity, with uranium reserves and advanced reactors, to develop nuclear weapons. Relying on a nuclear umbrella from an abusive ally, a relationship marked by tariffs and talk of annexation, limits our sovereignty. Developing our own deterrent would offer autonomous security amid global uncertainty.
Besides, many nuclear powers party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, notably the United States, have failed to honour disarmament commitments. This hypocrisy undermines the treaty's credibility, and no such state should dictate which countries may or may not develop nuclear weapons.
Canada should rethink its defence strategy. Nuclear deterrence uniquely guarantees security that conventional military spending cannot.
Timothy Kwiatkowski London, Ont.
Re "Is Carney willing to play the Keystone card?" (Oct. 13): In 2024, 94.4 per cent of Canada's hydrocarbon exports already went to the discounted, no-added-value U.S. market. How disappointing that Mark Carney still does not appear to understand that Canada does not need another oil pipeline to the United States.
Canada badly needs a high-capacity oil pipeline to Prince Rupert, B.C., on Canada's northwest coast to access new, diverse, world-priced markets for our oil exports.
Mike Priaro Calgary
Canada should prohibit crude oil exports that exceed the volume refined within North America, unless that oil has been upgraded.
Exporting raw bitumen beyond our continental refining capacity forfeits economic opportunity and environmental responsibility. Upgrading domestically would create jobs, drive innovation and ensure we retain control over our resources. Synthetic oil is cleaner and easier to refine, enhancing Canada's reputation as a responsible energy producer.
Such a policy would also improve the efficiency of existing pipeline infrastructure: Upgraded oil flows more easily, increasing throughput and reducing the need for costly new pipelines. By focusing on surplus exports, we would allow industry flexibility while encouraging investment in Canadian upgrading capacity.
This balanced approach would ensure that Canadians, not foreign refineries, benefit from our natural wealth. It would be a smart, sustainable move that aligns with our long-term economic and environmental goals.
G. Rapley Bunting Toronto
Re "Canada can lead EV supply chain despite trade war and murky policies, industry players say" (Report on Business, Oct. 15): Opening Canada's electric-vehicle market to China without protections for our domestic industry and workers would cause serious damage to our country. However, history offers a solution: Reintroduce a version of the old Auto Pact.
Let us say Chinese manufacturers can import one Chinese car for every car they assemble in Canada. Assembling 1,000 cars in Canada would allow them to bring in an additional 1,000 cars from China duty-free. This could be expanded to include credits for Canadian content or exports of Canadian parts to China.
We should ensure that our economy is not damaged by dropping EV tariffs.
Achim Krull Pickering, Ont.
Re "In America's farm belt, the lowly soybean becomes a litmus test for Trump's tariffs" (Report on Business, Oct. 11): The United States imports about 90 per cent of its potash fertilizer from Canada. I trust that our trade and tariff negotiators are using this fact to its maximal advantage in discussions with our southern neighbours.
Should potash prices for U.S. soybean farmers increase as a result of Donald Trump's tariff policies, I hope they appreciate that their President is the culprit adding further woe to their plight.
Jeff Goldman Toronto
Re "Improving access to psychologists shouldn't mean dangerously lowering our standards" (Opinion, Oct. 13): Expanded access to psychologists should not come at the cost of professional standards.
Ontario faces a significant regulatory gap: Highly trained PhD psychology graduates wish to work in regulated areas, but cannot become registered psychologists because no structured respecialization programs exist to bridge curriculum gaps, internships and regulatory requirements.
Rather than lowering standards, Ontario should implement competency-based respecialization programs, similar to those in engineering, nursing and teaching, or those offered by the American Psychological Association. Such programs would recognize prior doctoral training, as well as allow PhD graduates to meet regulatory requirements and transition into applied practice as registered psychologists without compromising competence.
Canada's work force and the public would benefit immensely by leveraging the expertise of PhD-trained professionals who are ready to contribute to applied psychology and the broader mental-health and well-being landscape.
Meagan Yarmey, PhD Toronto
Re "Canadian investor says Ford government ignoring proposal to redevelop Marineland" (Oct. 11): The Ontario and federal governments should stop the finger-pointing and finally decide who is responsible for the 30 beluga whales still trapped at Marineland. This bureaucratic stalemate has dragged on far too long while intelligent, social and sensitive beings remain in limbo.
Every week brings new proposals from qualified individuals and organizations offering humane solutions, yet Doug Ford and the federal Fisheries Minister appear content to ignore them. This is not only unnecessary, it's inhumane.
I have personally witnessed the euthanasia of whales. It is neither simple nor merciful and it inflicts enormous fear and stress on the surviving animals. If even one of these belugas is destroyed for bureaucratic convenience, both the Premier and the Fisheries Minister would bear that tragedy on their consciences.
It's time to act decisively and humanely, not continue this shameful exercise in knuckle-dragging.
Patricia Gray, founder and former president, Canadian Animal Distress Network Calgary
Re "Supreme Court of Canada justices swap iconic red robes for new 'modern and simple' look" (Oct. 10): I think the Supreme Court's new robes make them look like Presbyterian ministers. Maybe they're aiming for a different kind of judgment?